LAHORE: Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Bokhari has won a defamation case against Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Ud Din Riaz Qureshi, with the Lahore Defamation Tribunal ordering him to pay Rs3 million in damages.
The tribunal issued a brief written judgment in the case, directing Qureshi to pay Rs3 million to the provincial minister over allegations he made against her during a television programme.
Bokhari had filed a defamation suit against Qureshi, seeking Rs840 million in damages, alleging that he had made baseless and fabricated accusations that damaged her reputation and credibility.
The case stemmed from remarks Qureshi made following the visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to the Punjab Assembly.
Qureshi had alleged that Bokhari facilitated the entry of 150 to 200 paid individuals into the provincial assembly during the visit. He also claimed that journalists who questioned Afridi were paid employees of the provincial information minister.
According to the tribunal’s judgment, Qureshi admitted that he had made the statements during a television programme but failed to produce evidence substantiating his allegations. The tribunal further observed that his lawyers could not establish the claims during their arguments.
Bokhari approached the Lahore Defamation Tribunal in January 2026 under Section 3 of the Punjab Defamation Act 2024, seeking damages over the allegedly defamatory remarks.
Her petition stated that the allegations had been broadcast on television and circulated on social media, including through the official Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) social media account, reaching millions of people.
The minister maintained that the statements had seriously harmed her reputation, dignity and credibility.
Afridi visited Lahore on December 26, 2025, for a three-day trip that included political engagements and a visit to the Punjab Assembly. His visit to the provincial legislature was marked by altercations between members of his delegation and security personnel.
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